Likewise, no issue with appetite here. That no-hunger blip might’ve been real, might’ve been a coincidence, but eating well hasn’t been a problem for the past few days.
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Holy crap, Corndogs; a state-sponsored market crash and subsequent recession have kept me busy when trying to help manage a capital business and sell a rapidly devaluating property!
I’ve literally been at work during all possible gym hours the last couple days. I have been able to walk while on conference calls, logging well over 25 miles and a couple hours of yard work.
Today I got back in. I have at least one day next week I won’t be able to lift, but should should still be able to catch back up to the schedule over the next two weeks.
DE Bench today
- Unity Warmup
-
DE Bench
45/8
135/3 x 2
165/3 x 12 w/ 30s rest
3 different grips
I’m finding I don’t normally touch low enough on my chest when I bench. Cleaning this up is going a long way toward making my shoulder not feel like it will disintegrate. -
Lowish Incline DB
60/6
80/4
95/8
95/8 + 75/8
Crisp reps with a hard flex, like a boss -
Smith Seated Shoulder
45/5
135/5
185/8
205/5
2s hold first and last reps -
Y Raise
20/14 x 3 -
Rope Pushdown
4 x 12 -
Tricep Machine
3 x 8 slow reps
This one keeps your elbows real high - I like it; great stretch
I 100% think the Surge Workout Fuel helped today. It’s been well over 100° out, I have been outside many hours each day, I haven’t really been eating or sleeping, and I still knocked out a pretty solid day without feeling awful. This should be a big positive, because stringing together more days that are a little bit better should theoretically lead to an end result that’s noticeably better.
9 Likes
We’re at it again!
I got my son back from camp this morning, which was nice, and we have another open house today so the realtor set us up at a game place so we can decompress - super nice of her. One of my son’s camp mates told me I was really strong, which is now my preferred introduction.
I had to make sure I look big in a shirt, though:
-
C/S Row
They didn’t have the machine I wanted, so we winged it
1pps/8
1.25pps/8
2pps/4
2.25pps/4
3pps/8 x 3 -
One-arm BB Row
25/4
50/4
75/12 x 2
75/12 + 50/6 -
Assisted Pull-ups
-70/10 x 3
10s hold on the last set -
Machine Rear Delt
70/30 x 3 -
Seated DB Hammer Curl
20/12 + 6 partials x 3 -
Machine Preacher
3 x 8
7 Likes
Is there an easy way to find my own log anymore? The new setup confuses me a little. I do like that the owner’s posts are highlighted, though; that’s convenient.
Alright, ladies, gentlemen, and @simo74, here’s where we are:
- I’m a day and a half behind schedule. We move the weekend after next, so I’m giving myself two weeks to catch up.
- Surge Workout Fuel absolutely makes a difference. I’m progressing on the hardest program I’ve done, while traveling, moving, trying to do summer with the kids, etc.
- I don’t know yet what impact Indigo-3G may be having, other than more entertaining bathroom adventures, but at least I’m finally on the IG.
Today was ME legs, straight out of a 6-hour car ride.
- Unity warmup
-
Seated Leg Curl
40/15
70/10
100/4
130/3
130/10 x 4 -
Squat
High bar. Apparently I picked a “whippy” bar. It wanted to fly off my shoulders on the heavier sets. I did not like it, but also wasn’t about to unload it and find a new one.
45/8
135/6
225/3
275/3
315/1
365/3
295/5
315/5
295/5 -
Speed DL
225/2
300/1 x 15 w 10s between -
Machine Squat
-/4
1pps/4
2pps/8
2pps/8 + 8 + 8
Guess I really am going to have to go up -
BSS of Death!
BW/5
10/5
17.5/5
25/8 + 8s + 17.5/8 + 8s + 10/8 + 8s + BW/8 + 8s
No locking out the whole time! Pure death -
RDL
205/8
225/8 x 2 -
Decline Sit-up
3 x 11 -
Seated Calf
4 x 15
5 Likes
Not following along too closely, so I might’ve missed this, but how long do unity workouts normally run?
1 Like
The ME days take 90 minutes plus. It might be even more next week because it keeps adding a little volume. I move relatively quickly too. These are long days.
The DE and back days are more reasonable: ~60-75 minutes.
These is the hardest program I’ve done. I tried twice before and didn’t make it through. It’s my Surge test case.
2 Likes
Glad that you included ladies, gents and ‘other’ in your summary. LOL
1 Like
you too funny!
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Thanks for the info, I’ve never run a meadows program but have heard good things about it. Definitely considering it for this winter when spending more time in the gym is more enjoyable.
Will be impressed if you complete it this go around with all the life stuff
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I strive for inclusion! Really I’m jealous and trying to get you to notice that some days I squat.
I’m glad someone thinks so! These people that live with me sing a different tune.
@heretolog Thanks man! I’ll finish it. I’m just not able to be perfect on schedule. I know some of us are purists and that doesn’t count as doing the program, but we all have to live in the real world too.
John’s stuff has become my absolute go-to over the last several years. I am not as strong as some of the jerks on here, but I am relatively large and can stay moderately lean with little effort at 40yo.
His stuff is fun for some folks and absolute tedium for others. For me, I get to feel like I’m going to die and push hard on sets without debilitating joint pain; that’s enough.
What are you looking for in a program? Anything I can answer?
If you are looking into it, his programs are expensive but there are plenty online. I always recommend starting with the below on this site:
If you like that, he has a 6-week PPL up on a competitor website as well. From there, pick your poison!
5 Likes
Oh man, that’s the million dollar question for me. I’ve been running 5/3/1 (variations) for the majority of this year and will probably do it or similar for a few more months. It has been relatively effect at getting me stronger (at least at doing reps) but my body gets cranky on it pretty quickly and I honestly love doing bodybuilding-esque work. So, pretty much something that is going to give my body a break (I am going to return to strength work until I hit some long-standing goals) while providing structure (i’m okay at programming now but still not good), and giving me them pumps.
I just glanced at the Reactive Pump weeks 1-2 and it looks like it will be pretty challenging but also pretty fun, I had no idea he had a program with so much detail on this site, thanks for that link. Will definitely not be running that in a deficit.
Only thing I can think of right now is: do you have chains? How integral to the program do you find them, if so? What substitutions do you run, if not?
I’ll probably pull the trigger on this come Fall or Winter, sure I’ll have more questions at that point.
1 Like
I did in my old gym (and we’re moving back). They were fun because they’re loud and nobody knows how little I’m lifting.
Really not at all. It adds some variety and is entertaining, but they aren’t a difference maker in terms of size or strength for me. I mostly think of it as a fun way to ramp up. I also don’t think I’m strong enough to really take advantage.
You could reverse band for a very similar effect. I do find this useful when my lower back is hurting or something, because it deloads the bottom. It’s still not really necessary, though. He talks through his goal for each movement, so you can match that. For the lifts with chains, I’d just take smaller jumps until my reps slow way down/ get hard and then grind out a challenge set.
2 Likes
ME Upper today
-
Slight Decline DB Bench
40/15
60/8
75/4
90/4
105/8
105/6 + 80/6 -
Bench
45/8
135/8
185/3
225/1
255/2
225/4 w/ 3s eccentric and holds
225/3 w/ 3s eccentric and holds
You won’t believe this - I used that same Olympic bar from yesterday. I really hated it on this. -
Slight Incline DB Bench
60/4
85/8
85/8 + 65/6 -
Dips
3 x 10-12 -
DB Side Raise Partials
40/20 x 3 -
Machine Rear Delt
100/15 x 3 -
V-bar Pressdown
4 x 12
The Tate press was hurting my shoulder so I switched -
DB Skullcrusher
30/10 x 3
6 Likes
Catching up!
DE Squats today
-
Lying Leg Curl
40/15
70/10
90/4
110/4
125/8 + 90/8 + 20 partials -
DE Box Squat
45/8
135/5
185/3
235/2 x 20 w/ 30s rests -
Leg Press
2pps/4
4pps/4
6pps/14 x 2 -
Hyperextension
45/12 x 3 -
Decline Leg Raise
3 x 12 -
Calf Machine
3 x 12
6 Likes
Forgot to mention - I have gained ~5 lbs. but am on the same lifting belt hole no matter what time of day I lift. I am guessing that’s good? Let’s go with good for now.
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good to see you polishing the wheels sir. Nice work
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Thanks! Funny you should say that: it was this session that I decided definitively that my next program will have only one weekly leg day
3 Likes
Dudes! And @ChickenLittle… and sometimes @anna_5588 (I’m giving myself much credit here)… ‘twas a good day.
DE Bench
-
DE Bench
45/12
95/8
135/5
165/3 x 15 w/ 30s rests
3 grips
These are actually really helping this go around. I don’t ever really spend any time benching, and didn’t realize how bad I was at it. I’m learning to get a big chest and get a grip on the bar. It’s funny how “non-transferable” some of this is: my dumbbell work is relatively heavy, and I do very clean reps, but still suck on the barbell. -
Lowish Incline DB
70/4
100/8
100/7 + 75/7
Come at me, bro! This was pretty solid, especially when you consider I had a heavy/ high-volume chest day 48 hours ago. -
Seated Smith Shoulder Press
95/8 (but not really, because one side had a 45 - whoops)
135/5
195/8 w/ 2s holds
215/5 w/ 2s holds -
DB Y Raise
20/16 x 3 -
Rope Pushdown
50/14
57/14 x 3 -
Machine Extension
50/8 x 3
This was a very solid day, except Walker Hayes’ “Briefcase” came on my headphones at one point, so I had to be a teary, snotty mess for a bit.
I hit all the progressions even with only 48 hours since the heavy upper body day. I have to say the Surge Workout Fuel simply is helping at this point. I also have to acknowledge I was absolutely not taking recovery as seriously as I needed to the last couple times I tried this program. I’m definitely the guy that tries to do these hard programs regardless of whether I’m willing to gain weight or not - that was not helping.
10 Likes
Solid day indeed. Wow… that is a lot of work
The real question is: where are the curls 
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They’re on tomorrow’s agenda!
This is an incredibly high-volume program, even for Meadows.
1 Like